A HORSE IN A WELL. 389 



for such it was, into which he had fallen had, it 

 appears, been closed and pitched over, like the rest of 

 the stable, some years before, and therefore its pre- 

 sence could not be detected ; but the pitched flooring- 

 had given way with the weight of the horse's hind- 

 quarters. His position was erect, his two fore-legs 

 and head and a part of his neck being all that could 

 be seen of him. The news of the accident spread 

 with great rapidity, and we soon had plenty of 

 volunteers very kindly tendering their assistance ; 

 everyone knowing the best and safest way of extract- 

 ing him from his perilous position. Among racing- 

 people, the two first to arrive were Captain Hawksley 

 and the lovely ' Nelly ' ; Mr. Gr. Angell following- 

 soon after. 



I had previously and luckily taken the precaution, 

 to prevent the horse doing himself any mischief, to 

 stuff two sacks with hay, and have them placed at 

 the sides of the well. My own opinion had been 

 from the first, that he would have to be dug out. 

 But, at the suggestion of a gentleman present, who 

 was positively certain that if a rope were passed 

 beneath his fore-legs — not an easy thing to do — and 

 swung over the beam in the stables, the horse would 

 come out as easily as drawing a cork from a bottle, for 

 Ave had plenty of strength, I allowed this to be tried. 

 But what terrible results would have followed if the 

 operation had been persevered in, I cannot say. I 

 had to stop it when it had become a nice question 



